A Labour councillor who called for far-right protesters' throats to be cut at an anti-racism protest told police the 'ill-advised' comments were made 'in the heat of the moment', a court has heard.
Ricky Jones, 58, described demonstrators as 'disgusting Nazi fascists' at a protest in the wake of rioting following the Southport murders, his trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court was told.
A video showing Jones, who at the time was also employed as a full-time official for the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) union, addressing the crowd in Walthamstow, east London, on August 7 last year went viral on social media after the protest.
Wearing a black polo top and surrounded by cheering supporters, the now-suspended councillor said: 'They are disgusting Nazi fascists. We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all.'
He also drew his finger across his throat as he spoke to the crowd.
